Biggert says recovering Kirk calls his treadmill his 'dreadmill'

Published Date: July 28th, 2012

27 July 2012

Sen. Mark Kirk, who suffered a severe stroke in January, met Thursday with Rep. Judy Biggert, who said he is “back on his game” and even wisecracking about his treadmill — which he calls his “dreadmill.”“He looks great and we had a great conversation,” she told the Tribune on Friday. “He’s back on his game. He’s doing well. I think he’s eager to get back, but I imagine that he will return (to the Capitol) whenever the doctors tell him he can.

“I am grateful to Dr. George Hornby, the physical therapists and other personnel of the walking research trial at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago for helping me to advance my mobility and independence over the past nine weeks,” Kirk’s statement said. “With their encouragement and help, within the research trial I walked an average of 3,677 steps per day, a total of 14.79 miles over ground and on the treadmill, and up 145 flights of stairs.”Kirk, 52, suffered an ischemic stroke Jan. 21 and underwent three brain surgeries at Northwestern Memorial Hospital before being transferred to the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. He is being treated there as an outpatient and is relearning to walk, according to a video his aides released in the spring. Eric Elk, a Kirk aide, on Thursday characterized the lawmaker’s stroke as “severe.”

Kirk was elected to the Senate in 2010 after nearly 10 years representing Chicago’s North Shore in the House. Biggert, 74, entered the House more than 13 years ago and faces Democrat Bill Foster, a former House member who lives in Naperville, in the Nov. 6 election.